1 To Start a Match

A coin flip shall precede the start of the match. The team that wins the flip has the
choice of table side or first serve. The team that loses the flip has the remaining
option.
1.1 Once a team has chosen either the table side or the first serve, they may not
change their decision.
1.2 The match officially starts once the ball has been put into play.
1.3 Ref. video: http://youtu.be/mo6wl0rdoVk?t=2m36s
2 Serve and Ready Protocol
A serve is defined as putting the ball into play at the five-man rod at the beginning
of a game, after a point is scored, or if the ball is awarded to a player on the fiveman rod following a rules infraction. The ready protocol will be used whenever
putting the ball into play.
2.1 The serve.
The serve shall begin with the ball stopped at the middle player figure of the
five-man rod. The player serving the ball must then follow the ready protocol.
2.2 Ready Protocol
Before the ball can be put into play, the player in possession must ask the
direct opponent if he or she is "ready".
2.2.1 To begin play, the ball must be moved from one player figure to
another but may not be directly advanced from the second figure. After
contacting the second player figure, the ball may be directly advanced
by any other player figure. The player does not have to stop the ball or
wait prior to advancing the ball.
2.3 Ref. Video: http://youtu.be/mo6wl0rdoVk?t=3m27s
3 Subsequent Serves
Following the first serve of a match, subsequent serves shall be made by the team
last scored upon. The first serve in subsequent games of a multi-game match shall
be made by the team that lost the preceding game.
3.1 If a team is awarded possession because the opposing team is penalized for a
rules infraction and the ball subsequently goes dead between the five-man
rods it shall be served by the team who originally served that ball.
3.2 Ref. video: http://youtu.be/mo6wl0rdoVk?t=3m27s
4 Ball Off the Table
If the ball leaves the playing area and strikes the score markers, light fixture, or any
object that is not part of the table, or if the ball rolls or comes to rest on the top of
the cabinet, it shall be declared off the table. Otherwise, if the ball hits the top of
the side rails or cabinet ends and subsequently returns to the playing surface, the
ball is still in play.
4.1 If a player advances the ball and it subsequently goes off the table, it will be
put back into play at the opposing teams goalie rods
4.2 Ref. Video: http://youtu.be/mo6wl0rdoVk?t=6m19s

5 Dead Ball
A ball shall be declared a dead ball when it has completely stopped its motion and is
not within reach of any player figure.
5.1 If the ball is declared dead anywhere between the five-man rods, it shall be
put back into play at the five-man rod by the team who originally served the
ball. (See Rule 2).
5.2 If the ball is declared dead between the goal and five-man rods, it shall be
put back into play at the two-man rod nearest the spot of the dead ball. Play
shall resume using the Ready Protocol (See Rule 2).
5.3 A ball that is intentionally made dead shall be awarded to the opposing team
for a serve.
5.4 Ref. Video: http://youtu.be/mo6wl0rdoVk?t=7m56s
6 Spinning the Rods
Spinning of the rods is illegal. Spinning is defined as the rotation of any soccer
figure more than 360 degrees before or more than 360 after striking the ball. In
calculating the 360 you do not add the degrees spun prior to striking the ball to the
degrees spun after striking the ball.
6.1 If a ball is advanced by an illegal spin the opposing team will have the option
of continuing play from the current position or to serve the ball.
6.2 2 Spinning of a rod which does not advance and/or strike the ball does not
constitute an illegal spin. If a player's spinning rod hits the ball backwards into
his own goal, it will count as a goal for the opposing team. Spinning of a rod
away from the ball (when there is no possession) is not considered an illegal
spin.
6.3 Ref. Video: http://youtu.be/mo6wl0rdoVk?t=11m32s